Personalized Travel Tissue Holder

Back-to-school usually also means the beginning of cold & flu season. I used to send my daughter to school with her own personal pack of travel tissue, but she always shoved them into her book bag carelessly, which ripped the cheap, plastic covering and the tissues would end up getting dirty and unusable.

Once I started making fabric travel tissue holders for her, the tissues stayed in place because the fabric was a bit tougher. I also think my daughter might be more careful with the fabric tissue holder because...Hello! Cuteness!

This year, I'm planning to personalize her tissue holder because she tells me she's kind of famous for always sharing a tissue when someone is in need and, if the tissue holder get passed around, it's sure to come back to her eventually if her name is on it, right?

There are fabric tissue holder tutorials all over the web. They are easy to sew and make a good beginner's project. Here's a quick explanation of how I make mine:

Supplies:

• Joy Embroidered Iron-on Letters - available for purchase at your local fabric or craft store
• Iron and ironing board
• 6.5" x 7" piece of fabric for the outside
• 6.5" x 7" piece of fabric for the inside 
• Sewing machine and basic sewing supplies 

Instructions:

1.  Pin fabric pieces together, right sides facing each other.
2.  Sew 1/4" around the outer edge. Leave a small opening on one long side.
3.  Turn the fabric right side out and press, making sure your opening is pressed inside.
4.  Lay the square, outside fabric facing down, on your ironing board. Fold short edges towards the middle, so the edges meet each other. Press in place.
5.  Stitch the ends down. Turn cozy right side out.
6.  Remove the Joy letters from the sheet and arrange them in place. Cover with a pressing cloth, then iron-on the letters for 30 seconds.
7.  Allow to cool for 1 minute before you handle.

If you want some tips for how to prepare for the cold season, check out my blog post on the topic. Stay healthy!